Old Friends  
3840f   $48.00

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Dating circa 1865, this 7 1/2" long, weighty at 1.5 T. oz., master butter knife is stamped "*F. & H.*" on the blade for Boston's Farrington & Hunnewell, and "Pure Coin," which is a New England term, on the underside of the handle.

It is twisted, with the handle and blade set at right angles to one another.

The slightly upturned, thick handle has a pedimented end and is extensively diamond bright cut on the front in a pattern that is characteristic of Boston in the period.

The scalloped... Click for details

Old Friends  
3836f   $135.00

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Utilizing an "Old English," i.e. rounded end with a reverse tipt back, form, "Lily Engraved" is one of numerous bright cut designs Whiting and other manufacturers produced in the 1880s.

Attractive and artful, these patterns showcased the skills of engravers of the period and were apparently well received in their time, given the variety of examples still available today.

This piece is a lengthy, 10 1/2", 3.1 T. oz., all silver fish slice.

The blade is relatively slender, slightly... Click for details

Bruce Cherner Antique Silver  
2397   $375.00

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Philadelphia circa 1790, with round downturned end and rounded drop, length 14 1/4 inches, weight 6.0 Troy ounces, monogrammed "RRC" (period script, obverse), with a scratch below these initials as shown and a few minor nicks in bowl but very good overall condition. In an attempt to distinguish this ladle from its peers, we'll mention that the bowl has a slight boat shape when viewed head on, as you may see in photo number four.

Old Friends  
3834f   $335.00

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Most American tongs of this size, 8 1/8" long and 2.7 T. oz. in this instance, and configuration, namely with a talon or fork grip combined with a spoon or cup grip, date from the mid 19th century.

Commonly identified as chicken (salad or fried) tongs, they might have have been used for various salads.

This coin silver pair are particularly attractive, combining several design features.

Each of the arms, for instance, has a twisted section, which style was particularly favored in the... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190407-07   $375.00

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Offered is a gorgeous American coin silver waste bowl by noted silversmith Harvey Lewis (1783-1835), working in Philadelphia circa 1805-11 in partnership as Lewis & Smith, and working alone in Philadelphia circa 1812-25, before his health declined and he gave up silversmithing. Despite a shorter working career, Harvey Lewis established himself as one of the leading silversmiths of his day in Philadelphia, and his work is nearly always superb. His pieces are represented in every major American... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190407-03   $24.00

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Offered is a very nice early American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith and jeweler Nicholas Le Huray (or LeHuray) Jr., working circa 1821-46 in that city. Nicholas Junior's work is always desirable and usually very finely done. This spoon is no exception, with a lively period engraved script monogram, and nice proportions. Please scroll through all the pictures by clicking on the first picture. This spoon measures about 5 3/4 inches in length and weighs about 13 grams. ... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190406-04   $17.50

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Offered is a nice American coin silver salt spoon by well-known Lancaster watchmaker and silversmith Gottfried M. Zahm, part of a family dynasty of silversmiths and jewelers in Lancaster. This piece is marked G.M.ZAHM in a rectangular punch, and is engraved "CR" in period script for the original owner. Interestingly, the engraver slipped a bit and there is a line from the end of the R down the handle. This piece measures about 3 5/8 inches in length and weighs about 6 grams. Condition... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190406-NFS   Not For Sale

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NOT FOR SALE - Here's a challenge - a circa 1790-1810 American coin silver tablespoon marked only IS in a large serrated punch, with a nicely engraved period script monogram of GJM and a V-shaped drop. This piece measures about 9 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 59 grams. It came in a lot with a piece by Caleb Bentley of DC, VA and MD, and it has the look of rural VA, MD or PA. I haven't seen this particular mark before, and am hoping someone else has. If you can solve this piece (or... Click for details

Old Friends  
3829f   $165.00

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This ice cream knife or slice is about as large an example of such things as can be found. It measures a full 12" long and weighs just over 5.0 T. oz.

It is solid sterling silver, with a 7 1/2" by 1 3/4" flat blade that has a beveled lower edge and upswept, pointed, tip. The upper edge is perfectly straight.

The pattern is "Corona" by Dominick & Haff. It incorporates a shell design that appears on both sides of the handle terminus and at the join with the blade.

The handle front... Click for details

Old Friends  
3826f   $35.00

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Measuring 7 1/8" long and weighing approximately 1.0 T. oz., this size spoon is variously identified as a place, dessert or oval soup.

This example is in a "Fiddle Tipt" pattern and is stamped "Kirby," for Abner, "Milwaukee," and with a "P, eagle, star" pseudo hallmark.

In his work on marks, William McGrew identifies this combination of symbols with William Pitkin of Hartford, Connecticut, but he also associates the particular eagle on this with Chicago, which is a much more likely source... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-14   $225.00

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Offered is a very rare set of four antique Chinese Export Silver (CES) table knives dating to about 1825-50, with hand-carved mother-of-pearl handles and solid silver blades and ferrules. Please take a look at all of the pictures by clicking on the first pictures. Each knife has a faced period engraved script monogram at the base of one side of the blade, and a maker's mark of HCG on the other side. This maker's mark has been assigned to Houcheong of Canton, working circa 1820-35. These... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-11   $45.00

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Offered is a very nice American coin silver table spoon by Prisca Levan Mannerback (Mannerbach), son of the well-known Reading silversmith William Mannerback. The younger Mannerbach/Mannerback, who went by Levan based on his maker's mark, started working under his own mark not much earlier than 1825, given that he was born in 1807, and that would make him 18 in 1825. This piece probably dates to the 1825-40 period. You can see all the pictures by clicking on the first picture. This piece has... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-08   $45.00

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Offered is a very fine example of the early maker's mark of noted Philadelphia silversmith Edward P. Lescure, who was working between 1822 and about 1836, and then intermittently through about 1861. While Lescure's later mark is well-known and seen periodically, this early mark is all but unknown, and perhaps only a tiny fraction of Lescure's extant work bears this mark. This spoon measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 18 grams. It has a faded period engraved script monogram.... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-07   $27.50

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Offered is a very fine American coin silver teaspoon by noted Philadelphia silversmith Edward P. Lescure, working circa 1822-36 and then intermittently through 1861. This spoon bears a good strike of his more common, later mark and is a nicely made piece with good proportions. Please take a look at all the pictures by clicking on the first picture. This spoon also has an engraved period script monogram. This piece measures about 6 1/8 inches in length and weighs about 22 grams. Condition is... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-06   $20.00

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Offered is a nice American coin silver teaspoon bearing early marks for Thomas J. Megear, silversmith of Wilmington (1831-32) and then Philadelphia (1832 to about 1860). This spoon is of the right style to have been made in the 1830s, and so could be from either location. This piece measures about 5 7/8 inches in length and weighs about 17 grams. It has a good clear maker's mark and a slightly faded period engraved script monogram. Condition overall is fair, with moderate wear overall, but... Click for details

Cliff Nunn - Antique Silver and Decorative Arts  
20190331-03   $27.50

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Offered is a new mark that may be the retailers' mark of a partnership between Malcom MacNeil (McNeil) of Philadelphia and his son John A. MacNeil (McNeil). I've never come across this mark before, but the spoon was manufactured by Watts of Philadelphia and is of the right time period for this father and son to have formed a partnership. The marks are nicely struck, and this spoon also has an excellently engraved period script monogram. This spoon measures about 6 1/8 inches in length and... Click for details